Improvement in envelope-machines



E. ALLEN & n. M. LESTER.

Envelope Machines.

Patented Aug. 11,1874. 7

THE GRAPHIC CO, PHOTOUI'HJSBlvI PARK PlAc lN-Y- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN ALLEN AND DANIEL M. LESTER, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT; SAID ALLEN ASSIGNOR TO SAID LESTER.

IMPROVEMENT IN ENVELOPE-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 153,920, dated August 11, 1874; application filed March 25, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWIN ALLEN and D. M. LESTER, both of Norwich, New London county, Connecticut, have invented certain Improvements in Envelope-Machines, of which the following is a specification Our invention relates to that kind of envelope-machine in which an endless chain is used for a drier; and consists in the arrangement of a rocking-shaft havingarms provided with suitable griping devices under the chain in which the envelopes have been carried around to dry the gum, which seize each envelope just before it leaves the drier, and, moving forward with the chain, take the envelope from between the plates of the chain, holding it securely while the shaft is partly revolved, then release their grip and deliver it upon the packing table-the object being to turn the'envelopes over during the act of de' livering them from the drier to the packingtable, thereby bringing the flap of each forward against the preceding envelope on the table, by which means the flap is held closed and the tendency of the flap catching on the machine, or of one or more envelopes slipping under the flap of a preceding one, is efi'ectually removed.

Figure l is an end elevation of a part of an envelope-machine embodying our invention, showing the position of the parts when griping an envelope to take it from the drier, the dotted lines showing the position when delivering the envelope upon the packing-table. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of one of the arms and griper open, as seen from the center in Fig. 1, the dotted lines showing the griper closed.

A is the table upon which the envelopes are delivered for packing. B is the endless chain or drier, being supported in its proper position above the table A, and receiving an intermittent motion by the shaft C as the envelopes are placed between the plates of the chain from the folder above, which motion (3&1Il68'tl161l1 around in the chain-all these parts being of the ordinary construction and arrangement.

In our improvement, Dis a shaft, having two to open wide, and, when closed, to gripe the envelope between it and the arm, being held open or closed by the spring N, which acts upon each side of the center 0. I I are pins inserted in the gripers, which, when the shaft is rocked back to take an envelope from the chain, strike the stops K K, thus tilting the griper till the spring acts past the center e, and closes it upon the envelope, but when the shaft is rocked forward to deliver the envelope these pins, in like manner, strike the stops L L and open the gripers to release its .9 being small checks to prevent the envelope slipping oif before they-are seized by the gripers.

It is evident that the form and position of the gripers may be varied, so as to seize the envelope by its ends or corners, as desired the intent and object of our invention being to insure the turning over of the envelope, so as to prevent the flaps catching in the manner herein described.

We claim as our invention- The combination, with the endless dryingohain B, in an envelope-machine, of the rockshaft D, having arms E E provided with griping devices G G, for the purpose of delivering the envelopes from the chain in an inverted position, substantially as herein set forth. EDWIN ALLEN.

DANIEL M. LESTER. Witnesses:

A. F. PARK, WEBSTER PARK.

Upon the end of eacharm is pivoted the griper G, so constructed as 

